3. Iron Man - Iron Man Series
Whilst we credit Hugh Jackman for making it all possible, it was Iron Man that brought the spotlight back where it belonged. If you had polled the average man on the street who Iron Man was before 2008, you'd probably get a response along the lines of some dude in a suit. Now, Robert Downey Jr. is the face of Marvel (Sorry, Hugh Jackman, but you belong to Fox now). Iron Man hit on all cylinders. He was a hero to undo his own destructive tendencies. A flawed genius, dealing with alcoholism, depression, a revolving door of a love life, and the shrapnel that has been threatening to kill him for the last five years. Plus, he puts every single person - with the possible exception of Hulk - to shame with the one-liners. Iron Man is who everyone has wanted to be since he hit the big screen, and shows no signs of slowing down.
2. Batman - The Dark Knight Trilogy
If people now want to be Iron Man, they've always wanted to be Batman. The Dark Knight has remained iconic since Adam West days, so it was almost impossible to give one of his incarnations the top gig. But I had to give it to Bale, for being to make both Batman and Bruce Wayne good characters. Most of the men who have donned the cowl have only been able to pull off one or the other, and until Batman Begins, no one really cared about the man behind the mask. Now we all see Bruce Wayne, tortured existence masquerading as playboy gazillionaire. He is now relevant. Relevant, but always second place when it comes to his alter-ego. Batman fulfills every boyhood fantasy in one. Martial arts learned from everywhere, more tech than a spy plane, the best car ever, and a costume that strikes fear in the hearts of your enemies (and they say black is very slimming). atman will always remain clawing at the top spot, making anyone who wants to top him earn every scrap of fame.